The Volcanic Seven Summits

Volcanic 7 Summits It was once volcanoes that shaped our planet, but today, many of the world's largest volcanoes lie extinct. Their fertile slopes are home to unique animals and plants that are found no-where else on Earth including some species that are only found in very specific areas and only at certain altitudes.

The largest volcanoes on each of the continents are known as the Volcanic Seven Summits, and although there has been some dispute over the years as to which countries they lie in, they are a popular challenge for climbers. Disagreements have also come about over the classification of what you would call a true volcano, so here are the highest:

Mount Kilimanjaro AFRICAName: Mount KilimanjaroElevation: 5,895 m (19,341 ft)Range: KilimanjaroCountry: TanzaniaStatus: ExtinctLast Erupted: UnknownEcology: Bamboo, Elephants, Buffaloes
Mount Sidley ANTARCTICAName: Mount SidleyElevation: 4,285 m (14,058 ft)Range: Executive Committee RangeCountry: Marie Byrd LandStatus: ExtinctLast Erupted: UnknownEcology: Snow Covered
Mount Damavand ASIAName: Mount DamavandElevation: 5,610 m (18,406 ft)Range: AlborzCountry: IranStatus: DormantLast Erupted: UnknownEcology: Gazelle, Brown Bears, Wolfs
Mount Elbrus EUROPEName: Mount ElbrusElevation: 5,642 m (18,510 ft)Range: CaucasusCountry: RussiaStatus: ExtinctLast Erupted: 50ADEcology: Chamois, Lynx, Foxes
Pico de Orizaba NORTH AMERICAName: Pico de OrizabaElevation: 5,636 m (18,491 ft)Range: Trans-Mexican Volcanic BeltCountry: MexicoStatus: DormantLast Erupted: 1846Ecology: Glaciers, Grasses, Rainforest
Mount Giluwe OCEANIAName: Mount GiluweElevation: 4,368 m (14,331 ft)Range: Southern HighlandsCountry: Papua New GuineaStatus: ExtinctLast Erupted: UnknownEcology: Cuscus, Cassowary, Frogs
Ojos del Salado SOUTH AMERICAName: Ojos del SaladoElevation: 6,893 m (22,615 ft)Range: AndesCountry: Chile/ArgentinaStatus: ExtinctLast Erupted: 700ADEcology: Flamingoes, Foxes, Llama